The Other Side of Motherhood

We live in a generation where everything seems to happen instantly. People can often make things work fast, or right away. Things are forced to happen "on time," in many cases. This takes away our patience, and even our attention span.  Sadly, over the last few decades, this has trickled down to the expectations of mothers.

We do our best to raise our children to be good, moral citizens.  We want them to produce the fruit from our years of hard work in teaching and training them.  We expect them to make the right choices and the right decisions.  This shows us their maturity and wisdom.  Yet, it isn't really about us.  It is about God's timing and God's will.

In the old days, Mothers knew to wait out the seasons and the phases.  They knew there was a point to stand back and let young ones make decisions. They knew to let the children face consequences; in order to learn the lessons and to grow and mature. 

This became very clear to me the other night.  Some of my older children came up with an idea.  I was tired and said I couldn't help.  But I was there to observe as the events unfolded. I knew what the result would be. I was excited about the lesson they were going to learn.  This time, no matter how tempted I was to interfere, or make their lives easier (thinking they had endured enough and had done enough), I backed off and let it all happen without me.  I did not give advice.  I did not take over the burden.  I had tea, went to bed early, enjoyed a quiet night, and I prayed for them.  The following morning, the results were in.  They learned the lesson!  They got the advice from the experience, instead of from my words!!  It worked!   I was delighted!

Many years ago, I read something about Mrs. John R. Rice (the wife of an evangelist and mother of six children).  She talked about her  children having meaningful work in the home.   She said chores taught them important lessons.  One day, one of her girls was very tired from a hard day at school and work.  But it was her night to wash the dishes and clean the kitchen.  Mrs. Rice was so tempted to go in there and say, "You go rest. You did enough today."  But she stayed back.  She said she wouldn't dare take away that lesson!    Her wisdom astounds me. 

Mothers, in this generation,  have spent much of our years interfering with God's lessons for our children. We have gone in there and tried to "help" or "ease" things.    This is part of control.  This is part of impatience!

When we observe the lives of godly grandmothers, we see a peaceful patience, and a knowing compassion for the young.  They don't give up easily on the youth of today!  They know there are phases, and trials, and mistakes that must happen to bring forth a mature adult.

Lately, I have seen my grown children come out of some tough years.  I have seen a "light" of maturity and peace coming from their lives and actions.  There are difficult teen years and young adult years for most (if not all) children.  But once they pass over that rugged hill and rough patch, they will emerge as an incredible blessing to their mothers.

The other side of motherhood, is from the grandmothers.  We look back over the years and see how quickly it all really happened.  We see patterns and lessons and trials.  But none of those "moments," or phases, lasted too long.   Some took hours, some months, and yes, some took years, but the children made it through.   We mothers of today, must stand back and have great patience and faith.  We must trust our prayers to reach the Master, and know that it will be okay in the end.

Blessings
Mrs. White



From the Archives:


This works Beautifully - Prayers Which Cannot Be Uttered.

When it gets Difficult - Forgotten Kindness in Marriage.

The Message we let into our homes - Choose Your Propaganda.



Order My Books:


For Home-keeping Inspiration, - For The Love of Christian Homemaking. 

A 90 Day Bible Study, inspired by John Wesley, -  "Early Morning Revival Challenge" 






An Invitation - Subscribe to The Legacy of Home and have it delivered directly to your email. 

The Homeschool Letters

My youngest student is a teenage soon-to-be man.    I have been working with him all his life, and he has made tremendous progress. This student is my only one out of five, who was learning disabled, and wasn't able to learn to read well until he was 10 years old.  It just didn't click for him until then.  Day after day, year after year, from the time he was 5, I worked with him.  Now, all these years later, he reads the KJV Bible fluently.  But we still have such a long way to go.  The difficulty is understanding our relationship.  I am his Mother. He is growing up and will be a man.  He doesn't always want to do things my way.  He sometimes senses that I am "nagging" him in our little school at home.  I must adjust.

I realized that we need to communicate in a different way.  We need a way that will work, or his education with me will not progress.    The way I have discovered is through letters.

For a student to learn, he must have time to think.  He must have time to seek out his education.  He must have time and quiet to evaluate and analyze.  He must study and solve.  How can this happen knowing his mother is hovering nearby waiting to "help?"  This is why I have backed away.  I will let him stumble and struggle while he learns the skill of learning for himself, rather than learning for me.

On each weekday morning, I have a set of letters waiting for him.  These are formal letters, with dates and indented paragraphs, and a proper signature.  The letters are instructions for the day, where to find the books he needs, and a little chart to show him a specific lesson I would have showed him in person.  He will use these letters to guide him through his homeschool day.  He will also take notes and write me back, telling me what he learned, and telling me what he needs help with.

He will also see the chalkboard, with problems and puzzles to solve.  They will appear "mysteriously" on the board because I will write them when no one is around to see me.  This adds intrigue and adventure to his learning. 

Each night, I will read his letters to me and check his books.  I will then write back, explaining problems he had trouble with, and giving him the new day's directions. 

As he learns to work all day long, without a hovering mother, he will begin to grow and think more independently.  He will acquire mighty skills he needs in order to be a man.  He will become less dependent on me.  He will also rise in wisdom and knowledge because there is a sense of intrigue in these letters and secret chalkboard puzzles, which will create in him a thirst for learning. 

These Homeschool Letters are my key to finishing the last few years of his education.  I am stepping back, while he is stepping up.   This is the last phase of my mothering of a child.


Blessings
Mrs. White



For Home-keeping Inspiration, order my book - For The Love of Christian Homemaking. 


Tweet

An Invitation - Subscribe to The Legacy of Home and have it delivered directly to your email.  I would also love to have you connect with me on Facebook and Twitter!

Homeschooling at the Library

When home got too difficult, distracting and unfriendly- to- quiet for my youngest homeschooler (15), I packed up his books and took him to the library.   Every morning, we got dressed up and took his books to the large, elegant library in town.  We went upstairs in the antique building with all its stately furniture, and sat in a large room, for 2 hours, and did his studies.  It was inspiring!

It seemed like we were in Boston, sitting in one of the rooms at Harvard College. (Okay, I have a vivid imagination!)  But the environment of that library inspired us to want to learn. . . To want to be quiet and to really study.   While my teenager worked on his books, his math and his writing, I crocheted or read from John Wesley's journals.  I sat across the table from my student and was available at any moment to help him.  But we mostly worked quietly and independently because that is how the best of learning takes place - when one is thinking and analyzing on one's own.

At times we would take breaks. I would look at the archives of historic books in the vaults, or take in the old artwork on the walls.  My student would walk through the different rooms and see what kinds of books were available. Then we would get back to our quiet little world of learning.

This daily excursion went on for months.  All too soon, the season changed and many new patrons were arriving to use computers. The tables and desks in every room were crowded with people needing wifi, and that took away the beauty and the silence of the inspired world of old fashioned learning.  So we stopped going.

I am remembering this today because, once again, my home has become crowded with noise, distractions and a great many people. The environment has become unfriendly to education.  So I must find a way to turn my own stately old home into a library of sorts. I will work on enticing the family to want to sit and learn in any of the rooms. I must pull out exciting literature, decorate the walls with art that makes one think, and try my very best to compete with the allurement of video games, computers and television. Somehow, I will make my home into a pleasant type of library that is far more interesting than the distractions that go on here.  And once I set my mind to do this, the happiness it brings me will be infectious!  All the children will think learning is pleasant, and that studying is delightful.  Even if it is only for 2 hours each day. 

Blessings
Mrs. White

Never Forget This - Education Must Not Be Rushed.

The Comfort of Home - The Light in the Window.

No Chores For Me - Mother's Cleaning Recovery.





Tweet

An Invitation - Subscribe to The Legacy of Home and have it delivered directly to your email.  I would also love to have you connect with me on Facebook and Twitter!

Mother's Faith - My New Book

Christian Mothers today are often struggling with having a happy home because of wayward teenagers.  These mothers have spent years praying, teaching and training their children in godliness. They have a great hope for a godly family and for children who grow up to bring joy to their hearts.

Instead, many teenagers and young adults have periods of waywardness.  Their pain, their trials and their choices bring weeping and sorrow to their godly mothers.  But this is not the best way to face the trials of mothering older ones.

"Mother's Faith" is designed to help comfort these mothers. It is designed to inspire courage and bring them joy. 

The book contains a collection of essays, gathered from this blog. They were specifically written by this mother of five,  in the midst of my own sorrow and trials, over the course of 3 years. 

 It is a plain, small paperback book, but packed with an important, ongoing message - Mother's Faith must never waver, no matter what the waywards do in the home. Mother will one day reap a harvest of joy.  This book will help give you a holy patience.

Please help spread the word.   After reading the book, if you would like to leave a review on Amazon, I would be most grateful.

Blessings
Mrs. White


What Would Happen  - If I Visit You at The Dinner Hour.

Remembering When My Children Were Younger - Gathering the Supermarket Bounty.

This is so important! - Mother's Rest.




Tweet

An Invitation - Subscribe to The Legacy of Home and have it delivered directly to your email.  I would also love to have you connect with me on Facebook and Twitter!

Mother's Glory

One of the greatest delights of motherhood is taking pride in our young children. We work hard to bathe, feed, educate, train and clothe them.  They are like precious cherubs who delight us and give us joy.  We love and adore them.

Our most difficult task, however, is instilling virtue and moral values into their characters. We take them to Sunday school and Church events.  We read the Bible and pray with them. We make Bible time and family worship a daily habit, hoping and praying it will take root in their souls and give them the peace that passeth all understanding, and lead them to their eternal home.

As time goes on, our little ones get into the middle years and things get harder. They begin taking different paths and making childish decisions that cause them harm.  When they are teenagers and young adults, they may fall into a great many trials. And this will make a mother weep.  She may go into a deep despair and be heartbroken for many years.

The bravest of mothers will smile through this dark time, and bring as much heavenly light into the home as she possibly can. She will still seek holiness and will endure, knowing the dawn will soon come.

One great day, Mother's glory will shine forth.  The glory is -  finally realizing that it is God that molds and shapes a holy soul, and it is HE who gets the glory.  If the child had grown, with ease, under mothers dedicated care, without a fault or a trial, then her skills and talents would have received all the praise.  Nay, let it not be so.

That family  may have shined here on this earth, but the brighter reward is the holy warmth of the Lord which shaped the souls of mother's children.  It is the mothers tears and work and turmoil through the years that is praised. But the final result, the reality of Mother's glory, is the humble and broken gratefulness of seeing God work in their lives, of God stepping in and doing the miracles, and of God making holy citizens out of the descendants in Mother's house.

The glory is the Lord's.  Remember this the next time you fall into weeping for your children. 

Blessings
Mrs. White

A Good Reason for Not cleaning - Mother's Cleaning Recovery.

Teaching Unselfishness at Home - Just for Company.

Precious Memories - When Television was Special.




Tweet

An Invitation - Subscribe to The Legacy of Home and have it delivered directly to your email.  I would also love to have you connect with me on Facebook and Twitter!

Don't Let it Become a House of Sorrow

I was standing in my parlour, just standing there, in misery.  So many wonderful things were happening and then this.  It was another trial. One that brought tears of frustration and pain.  Mr. White and my boys helped us through it.  They were the protectors, and the problem solvers.  But I was still fearful and shaky.

John walked over to me. He is 15.  He opened his Bible and started to read Psalm 23.  Matt (19) had a hand on the door to go outside. He paused and listened.  Suddenly all was calm. None of it mattered anymore. We were comforted and soothed. We could move on.  We could forgive, offer grace and mercy, and let the Lord handle the trial.

Have you ever seen those medicine commercials for those suffering from depression? I often watch the people sitting in the chair, or not getting out of bed, and think, I would LOVE to do that! I would love to sit near  a window all day, staring out at the landscape, and not have to worry, or do anything.  And this is the temptation, when the whole world seems to be crashing down on us. However, these moments of suffering are passing. They don't last!  They are the dark night. We have to fight our way through them, using our weak flashlight (our positive attitude) until we make it to the dawn.

Every single home has troubles that come and go.  We will have calm times, and happy times, and joyful times.  Sadly, these may only last a few moments, but we have to hang on to them. We remember them, and reminisce about them, and bring them back, to get us through those other times.

Last night, I opened my hymnbook and sang with John. We sang, "Bringing in the Sheaves."  We sang it over and over again. Singing these old hymns remind us  that we will suffer in this life, but the reward will come.  Our work will last. It is important.  This is our comfort.

But please don't let the disappointments, financial worries, disagreements, or the sorrow for sins around us, bring down the gray hairs of sorrow on your homes.  Let them not be houses of mourning.  We have to do the work of smiling, laughing, joking and making light of things. We have to seek out the rainbows, and open the curtains to see the sunshine! 

Each moment, each morning, let all bitterness and grudges fall away. Start new with a smile and some love, and a heart of cheerful service.  Make your home a happy place, despite the trouble. If you do that, you will be the greatest wife and mother on this earth!

Blessings
Mrs. White


When Mr. White and I started our family, we took - A Vow of Poverty.

What My Aunt Taught Me - Manners Learned at the Finishing School.

Every Home Should Have - A Housewife on Duty.



Tweet

An Invitation - Subscribe to The Legacy of Home and have it delivered directly to your email.  I would also love to have you connect with me on Facebook and Twitter!

Home Studies in the Evening Hours

In the old days, farm families worked hard on their land. There were plenty of chores for the entire family.  Yet, somehow, they managed to do some studying and schoolwork.  Since homes were not full of distractions (like television, video games and computers), studying with the family was a lovely way to pass the time.

Today, many homeschoolers use a strict schedule of starting school at 9 a.m. each day.  I used to do this when my children were little. As they got into the teen years, life became more complicated. It was no longer the sweet, slow-paced "nursery" phase.   In this modern day, we are also going to be constantly fighting to maintain a balance of using technology (being entertained by it) with learning, studying and producing.   This lesson must be learned by today's children.

In the last week, with the addition of a new baby in our family, I have been very preoccupied.  There has been more laundry, more cooking, and much more work for me.  This also means less sleep! (gentle smiles).  Even though this is a joyous time, I have been struggling with a way to keep up with homeschooling my 15 year old (John).  He needs to be reminded to do his assignments. He needs to be motivated and encouraged to do independent work.   Daily I have been trying new methods to get him on track. 

Tonight, I think I found a solution.  Our spending time together is centered around chores and school.  When we are together, it is when we are cleaning or cooking, or he is reading me his McGuffey or a Bible passage.   Tonight, even though we were both exhausted after a long day, we sat at the table to do his math lesson. We laughed at all the mistakes we both made. But this helped our analytical skills as we found the mistakes and re-solved them.  This is what quality time has become in our home - a time for learning. 

Life never lets up.  We often say that tomorrow, or next week, we will fix our routine.  Or when things calm down, we will get back on track. But life will keep throwing us something new to juggle.  The goal is not to wait until things are better, but to do them in the middle of the challenges. 

Right now, maybe I can't play cards with John or watch movies with him. But I can do school.  School became the fun.  We are fitting it in, the same way things were done in history; after a long day of heavy chores and hard work.  Our home studies are happening in creative ways.  They are happening in a simpler way, from a simpler time - by the hearth, with laughter. . .   It has become our evening entertainment.


Blessings
Mrs. White

Oh, Let This Not Be True! -  Only Rich People Have Clean Houses.

Much Better to use these - Mother's Rose - Colored Glasses.

When There Isn't Much Money - The Homemaker's Despair.



Tweet

An Invitation - Subscribe to The Legacy of Home and have it delivered directly to your email.  I would also love to have you connect with me on Facebook and Twitter!

When Cooking and Cleaning is Too Much

 

I've gotten into the habit lately of cleaning without cooking. I do dishes and polish the kitchen two or three times a day. I have a little help, but mostly enjoy the work alone, while listening to sermons, or gospel, on my kitchen radio. It is a peaceful, happy time, working in the kitchen.  I also keep the other rooms neat and do most of the laundry. I enjoy this work very much.

But if I add cooking the meals to that? It would overwhelm me.  My teenagers have taken over the cooking for now.   Amy (17) often makes the lunches or suppers. John (15) makes tea, snacks and some of the meals. Matt (19) will occasionally make a meal for us all, but mostly  makes himself something easy to eat very quickly, since he is on a busy schedule.  Mr. White makes a big breakfast in the early morning hours, each day. Whoever is awake gets to enjoy a hearty meal with him. But we are all mostly asleep at that time!

As the cold weather is approaching our rural Vermont town, I will want to start making beef stew with biscuits, or lasagna and Italian bread. But first I must build up my strength and get some energy.  To cook and to clean when one is often weary can be too much!

The other afternoon, I sat in my parlour chair with a nice book.  Matthew was in the kitchen making an early dinner.  He brought me some ginger-ale.  I was delighted! The more rest we mothers get, the more work we are able to do pleasantly.

To do my work in a slow-paced manner, I have to have plenty of helpers.  Children and teenagers have a tremendous amount of energy. They can sweep a floor, take out the trash, clean a bathroom, sweep a porch, do dishes, cook meals and many other things very quickly!  But I wouldn't want them to do everything. I would feel left out of the fun of housework! 

So I rest as much as I can, doing enjoyable things  - like reading or watching an old movie. I also love to visit with the family in the parlour.   I consider my housework my "breaks" from my "rest."  I can spend much more time resting, and doing what I want, if my breaks are the chores.  (It's kind of like rushing through doing dishes during a commercial.)

blessings
Mrs. White


In Marriage - When Groceries are the Presents.

Wisdom for Homeschooling - Education Must Not Be Rushed.

When Things Get Really Rough - Make the Mess Look Pretty.




Tweet

An Invitation - Subscribe to The Legacy of Home and have it delivered directly to your email.  I would also love to have you connect with me on Facebook and Twitter!

The 15 Minute Cleaning Helper

I like to be fair about chores. When my children were little, they were each assigned certain tasks each day.  One was The Breakfast Hostess. Another was in charge of cooking supper.  And another had to keep the living room clean.  Each of my 5 children had specific work to do each day.

When I was growing up, our heavy cleaning happened on Saturday.  I was responsible for cleaning the bathtub, sweeping down the porch stairs and dusting the living room.  I also had daily responsibilities. But each of these jobs, divided between family members, kept our house fairly  neat and tidy.

No house is going to be clean all the time.  We will always have chores. We will always need to prepare food, clean our clothes, and sweep. But things can be kept decent when we have helpers.

As children get older, they have more outside activities and projects going on.  They are also less likely to want to hang around with Mom (smiles) and do housework all day.  So yesterday, I decided to call my teenage son over and tell him I needed him for just 15 minutes.  This was extra work, over and above his normal daily chores. 

I set the timer, and we worked quickly. He helped me sort old clothes, throw out extra clutter, do some laundry, and deep clean our dish-drainer.   I was delighted with the extra help and was happy to get a few piled up things accomplished.

Today, I plan to have another 15 minute cleaning burst with some of the children.  It makes things more fun.   I have a list of things I want cleaned and will put it on the kitchen table.  Each of us can pick and choose what we want to do. Once the work is finished, we are to put a check mark next to the job and then write down our initials (so we know who did what).  When I tried this stunt recently, my son did far more work than I did, and was gloating.

Another thing I like to do is have cleaning contests with my grown daughter.  (She lives 2 hours away from me.)  We call each other on the phone and then talk about what we are dreading for overdue housework.  Today, we decided to deep clean our bathrooms.  I am supposed to call her this afternoon and discuss our progress.  However, I had some extra energy early this morning and already finished!   

Finding creative ways to make housework fun is one of the greatest things we can do as mothers.

Other than doing a 15 minute cleaning job with my teenagers this afternoon, I think I deserve the rest of the day off from heavy cleaning duty.  I will just relax and plan a nice leisurely supper tonight.  I hope your day goes well!

Blessings
Mrs. White

Need encouragment on extreme thrift?  My favorite book is "We Had Everything but Money."


When I realized I was overworking my children - A Cheerful and Willing Housekeeper.

Looking Back - When Television was Special.

Remembering my childhood Home - Saturday Morning Chores.

Tweet


An Invitation - Subscribe to The Legacy of Home and have it delivered directly to your email.  I would also love to have you connect with me on Facebook and Twitter!

The Last Years of Homeschooling

When my five children were younger, we would gather around the kitchen table for our studies. There was a healthy competition among them. They wanted to see who could shout out the answers first - in subjects like math, spelling and geography.

I would give them a writing assignment - something fun. They would head off into different rooms, smiling, wanting to come up with the BEST story. When they were all finished, they would come back into the room, eager to read their creation to the other children.

Those were the days when homeschooling was easier. Now that I am only teaching one student - my youngest at 14, there is no competition to help motivate and inspire him.

Our schooldays are more quiet. We sit together and do his assignments. He often studies on his own, completing much of his homework without me. He also does some of his work on the computer.  It is a strange new experience.

I miss seeing all the children at the table, excited about their writing projects, or happy to finish their math. We have entered a new phase in our home - the last years of homeschooling - and it is difficult to adjust.

I would love to hear some creative ideas from you mothers who are homeschooling only one student. Will you share your stories and ideas?

Blessings
Mrs. White


Creating A Restaurant Style Breakfast at Home.

I am Just a Regular Mom.

Hard Times - How The Old Time Mothers Survived Poverty.


Tweet



An Invitation - Subscribe to The Legacy of Home and have it delivered directly to your email.

A Mother of Sinners

It is a somber and sad day when Mother realizes her children are sinners. There is something called "The Depravity of Man" - and a "sin nature." These are things our children will fight against, each day, for the rest of their lives. It causes them great pain and suffering.  But it hurts Mom the most. . .

The sad realization is when you have young adults and teenagers who try so hard to walk the road of righteousness, but keep getting distracted by the world. They come home full of adventurous experiences - some thrilling, some heartbreaking - but there is sadness in their eyes and marks from the thorns.  There is no pure holiness in them, like you once thought there would be, when they were baby-cherubs in your eyes.  There is dirt and filth because. . frankly. . . your children have been dangerously playing in the world. And it will tear your heart out. . .

Others will see and mock. They are like closet-pharisees who think they are above depravity. This is the saddest thing of all - when your fellow Christian man gives up on your family and walks away - as if YOU, as the mother, did something wrong.

But I know a secret. . .

It is to never give up. I learned this in profound ways from some very precious Mothers - Erma, Emma and Edith:

Emma  (1950's)

Emma was Old Order Amish and became a widow at a young age. She was left with six children to raise, alone at home, and with the help of her Amish community.  She watched as young people experimented with the rules and "English" world around them. She was terrified as they did things that were dangerous to their souls. She prayed in secret and received constant comfort and reassurance from The Master.  But most of her children left the church to join more progressive churches.  The culture was rapidly changing and it was seeping into the Amish world.  One of the important things I learned from Emma was this:

She did not try to convince her children of the old ways - she lived it.  When her teenagers and young adults were living questionable lives, she let it all play out and let them learn their lessons. Why did she do this? She knew the Holy Spirit was working in their lives and God was in control. While she certainly advised them and got help and support from the elders, her daily practice as a mother was to let them learn to make decisions for themselves so they could grow.  The hardest lesson I learned from Emma was that, since we live in a rapidly decaying culture, our children are not always going to follow our old paths. They are facing new challenges in each generation - new temptations - and living in a culture that we never would have imagined.  Through it all, and despite the pain, she knew how to remain Amish. The lesson: stand fast in your faith, mother, regardless of the path your children take.

 Erma   (1960's)

In Erma's time, there was free love. Teenagers were spitting on the ground their parents walked on, and forsaking traditional family. They were shacking up and doing all manner of drugs. They hated our country and hated decency. They brought a downfall of horror to our society. When they did this, they only said, "peace," but they were deluded.

Erma had an amazing sense of humor, as a mother. She was a beloved columnist who shared her life with millions of readers. She encouraged them and made them laugh, even when they wanted to cry. Through all the pain and frustration of raising her children to be decent, God fearing citizens, she did the most important thing of all - she did not give up.


 Edith   (1970's)

As the war on our culture raged, feminism (or as some call, it - nazi-feminism) was raging strong. Edith, the traditional housewife, who was dedicated to her family, putting them first above all things - had a feminist daughter and a liberal son-in-law. The amazing thing about Edith is that she stayed who she was. She did not bend to the will of society - she did not become like her daughter - she remained a steadfast example of home, family and motherhood - and she did it all without pushing her views on anyone. She did it in silence. Her example meant more to a nation, on that television screen, even though the show was meant to belittle her. Even Erma loved her and said the world needed more Ediths.


No matter what we see in our children, on the surface, we have no idea what kind of work God is doing behind the scenes. He is laying the groundwork for their future. He is allowing them to wallow in things in order to gain experience in life, and to know and understand heartache. He is teaching them things we could never teach them. So, dear Mother of sinners, no matter what is going on in the lives of your children, remember this - a virtuous godly mother who is unflinching in her faith, while full of flaws herself, is the greatest testimony to her children than any words you could utter. Mother, ignore the pharisees, and stay strong and brave. In the very end, your children will rise up and call you blessed. 

"Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is." Jeremiah 17:7

Blessings
Mrs. White

A Mission of Mercy - The Sum of Godly Motherhood.

Very, very hard times - Trouble with Teenagers.

Homeschooling - How My Children Learned Social Skills.



Tweet


An Invitation - Subscribe to The Legacy of Home and have it delivered directly to your email.

Childhood Home as the Nursery

Sometimes my grown children get homesick. They miss the days of the nursery - where Mother is here for them all the time. When Mother bakes cookies, makes supper and plays games. It is the soothing seclusion of a loving home - where the world is shut out for a time.

I can often see pain, in the eyes of my teenagers. But I cannot make it go away. I cannot stop them from hurting, or from suffering, in this life. But I can be here, with a loving smile and open arms.

I can listen to their stories. . . without judgement. . . I can hear their trials and tribulations and say nothing. This is the resting place. Home is the place to recover from the world. But I cannot make the world go away.

So I play cards with them. .  We gather around the table and we laugh and have a good time. We all have hurt in our eyes, but we push it aside.

And we play pool, in our beat up, unfinished porch that we call the game room.  We play on teams and I hear stories and jokes and I hear things I never thought could be so funny! I enjoy my teenagers and grown children. But I do not try to run their lives. I do not try to control them.

I am the keeper of the nursery.

Come here, my precious babies, when the world has become too painful. . . Come home to the nursery, where I will always be - with the cookies and the cards and the loving smile.

(Love Mom.)



blessings
Mrs. White


Tweet


An Invitation - Subscribe to The Legacy of Home and have it delivered directly to your email.

Praying for Your Future Husband - Giveaway

Book - Praying for Your Future Husband.

Authors - Robin Jones Gunn and Tricia Goyer

Publisher - Multnomah

Paperback, 207 pages



Teenage girls of today need some guidance in finding a husband. They also need to learn to pray for him to be a man of God. They need to start caring about him before they even meet him.

This book includes inspiring devotions with true stories from the authors' own lives, as well as stories gathered from others.

A few things that stood out for me:

1. A boy from youth group told a girl he loved her, without even knowing her. This caused a frenzy of emotions but was not true love. The authors do an excellent job describing this common situation, and how girls can evaluate and understand how to approach godly relationships.

2. Many girls write a "list" of what they are looking for in a husband. These can be long, hopeful, and even picky! The authors share a completely different kind of list - a Biblical list of qualities that are more important than anything else. I love the way these ideas are presented!

3. I appreciate hearing Robin and Tricia's personal stories in each chapter. They really help the messages come alive.

4. Both Robin and Tricia are well-known writers of Christian Fiction.  I respect both authors and believe they have taken their gift of crafting stories and created an enjoyable work of non-fiction that will touch the hearts of many teens. This book is sure to become a must-have classic in the Christian genre!
 
Each chapter ends with a prayer, a section to jot down thoughts, and several discussion questions that would work perfectly in a small group study. 



The Giveaway

How would you like a chance to win your very own copy of Praying for Your Future Husband? I have one available for a giveaway. All you have to do is leave me a comment.

For additional Entries:

1. Post about this on Facebook.

2. Post about this on Twitter.

3. Follow me on Twitter.

4. Write a post, linking to this giveaway, on your own Blog. (This is worth 3 entries. Please leave 3 separate comments.)

5. Become a Public Follower through Google Friend Connect, or let me know if you are already a follower.

6. Choose to "Like" The Legacy of Home on Facebook.

7. Subscribe in an email to The Legacy of Home Blog.

*Please leave a separate comment for each entry.*

This contest is closed. The winner is Julieanne!

One random winner we be selected on Monday, June 27, 2011. (U.S.  Entries only.) If I am unable to reach the winner within 48 hours, an alternate winner will be selected. Your entry is only valid if you include a way for me to contact you. 

*Disclosure - This is part of a Litfuse blog tour. I received this book for review purposes.*

Want a chance to win more presents? Please visit my giveaway page.

To find out more about my commercial breaks, please see my disclosure page.

Tweet


An Invitation - Subscribe to The Legacy of Home and have it delivered directly to your email.

As For Me and My House - Giveaway and a Homeschooling Link-Up

 

Welcome to the last day of my open house party.

Today is about homeschooling. I have been teaching my children at home for more than 2 decades. I am now old and tired. (smiles) So after this party, I'll clean up the mess and enjoy a long rest this weekend!

I want to tell you about a great new book, by homeschooling author, Elizabeth Wiens. You'll even have a chance to win your own signed copy!

Then we can talk about homeschooling in today's link up.

The Book - As For Me and My House (A Novel) by Elizabeth Wiens. This is the sequel to Bringing Them Home, which I loved!

Publisher - OakTara

Paperback, over 200 pages.

In this realistic story, we are back with the Knight Family. We watch as the children enter the teen years. David and Cassy continue to search Scripture for answers and guidance in teaching their children at home.

Here are some of the things they encounter:

1. Worldliness and modernism in youth groups.

2. Should their oldest daughter attend college?

3. Is traditional dating okay for Christians?

4. Volunteer jobs at a local crisis preganancy center.

5. Apprenticing a son, by having him work with Dad.


I love their approach to test things out, pray and see where it leads, rather than making snap decisions. I greatly appreciated seeing how real emotions and problems appeared throughout the difficult times.

Cassy has the best homeschooling ideas! I loved reading her creative teaching methods and how well it worked with her children. The parents kept their teenagers very busy with projects, work and homeschooling.

If you've ever wondered what a conservative Christian homeschooling family was like, or wanted to understand how it worked during the teen years,  you will love this story!

Elizabeth is an excellent writer. I trust and respect her work. I hope she writes many more books!

The Giveaway

Elizabeth has sent me an autographed copy of her book for one of my readers. Would you like a chance to win? All you have to do is leave me a comment, telling me your thoughts on home education.

For additional Entries:

1. Post about this on Facebook.

2. Post about this on Twitter.

3. Follow me on Twitter.

4. Write a post, linking to this giveaway, on your own Blog. (This is worth 3 entries. Please leave 3 separate comments.)

5. Become a Public Follower through Google Friend Connect, or let me know if you are already a follower.

6. Choose to "Like" The Legacy of Home on Facebook.

7. Subscribe in an email to The Legacy of Home Blog.

*Please leave a separate comment for each entry.*

One random winner we be selected on Thursday, June 23, 2011. (U.S.  Entries only.) If I am unable to reach the winner within 48 hours, an alternate winner will be selected. Your entry is only valid if you include a way for me to contact you. 

This contest is closed. The winner is:

Very Blessed Mamma

*Disclosure - I received this book for review purposes.*

To find out more about my commercial breaks, please see my disclosure page.

Now for the Link - UP!

We are currently struggling with hot summer days and trying to keep our year-round homeschooling schedule. We took several days off, but will get back to work on Monday. Are you homeschooling? I'd love to hear your tips, stories, and plans! All you have to do is write a post on your blog. Then come back here to link-up!


Be sure to link back to this page, so we can visit one another during this open house celebration!




Thanks so much for participating!

Blessings
Mrs. White

Tweet


An Invitation - Subscribe to The Legacy of Home and have it delivered directly to your email.